Wellington set to receive work permit but still faces tough task

Wellington Silva may well receive the news he has been waiting an eternity for next month, with the Brazilian winger likely to be granted a work permit enabling him to play competitively in England, but the 20 year old has yet to fully prove that he would be capable of making an impact in the Premier League.

His technical ability is undoubted, but, over the course of four separate loan spells in Spain over the past few years, he has been unable to hold down a regular place in the starting line-up for his temporary sides and, when he has been provided with an opportunity to impress, has often failed to take advantage of it.

The erstwhile Brazil U17 international has to date only featured for Arsenal in pre-season friendlies for the U21 side, but he will be hopeful that a strong second half of the season with Murcia in the Spanish second division could be a springboard towards regular Premier League action next season.

During spells with Levante, Alcoyano and Ponferradina in previous seasons, however, Wellington mustered just seven goals in two and a half seasons, whilst this campaign his only notable contribution was an assist during a rare start a couple of weeks ago.

At present, if Arsene Wenger was forced into making a decision over which young winger he should elevate into his senior squad on a regular basis, he would most likely opt for Joel Campbell, who possesses far more competitive experience than Wellington, has been in superb form this season, and will be hopeful of playing a starring role for Costa Rica in next summer’s World Cup.

For all his silky skills honed during his formative years at Fluminense, time is beginning to run out for Wellington to make the grade at Emirates Stadium. He will first have to work his way into the Murcia side on a regular basis and then make a substantial impression during pre-season next summer in order to take full advantage of his potential work permit.

13 comments

Show the lad a little love, and offer him the opportunity to redeem himself. He has done his time in the wilderness and survive it. Where it has broken many youngsters courage. He still desires to play for his parent club.

Jeorge, If Wellington receives the permit come January, is there a possibility of calling him back and then loan him to a championship club. I would love it if he is called back and continue his development in England. That way he can get to know the way of English football. And then Wenger can judge him if his future lies in arsenal

Jeorge, If Wellington receives the permit come January, is there a possibility of calling him back and then loan him to a championship club. I would love it if he is called back and continue his development in England. That way he can get to know the way of English football. And then Wenger can judge him if his future lies in arsenal or not

Arsene Wenger is now looking toward Germany and Eastern Europe: Gnabry, Eisfeld, Zelalem or players who have an European passport.
Getting a work permit for non-European, non-commonwealth young players with no or few international caps is near impossible in England. One solution is to park them in another club in an European country with less severe visa restriction. Unless you have well established, well formalised tied with a club in Spain or Holland, you are at the mercy of the foreign club. If that is the case, then the question need to be asked. Is it worth the hassle? Unless you are discovering the next Neymar or Messi, then the answer is clearly no.
Chelsea have a different arrangement, where they provide young future stars to their feeder club in Holland. That club has the obligation to play and teach those youngsters. Legally they don’t have the obligation, but the consequence financially means that in reality they do. Everton have the same kind of arrangement with Barcelona regarding Deulofeu. When physically fit, the less game time he has the more the loan cost Everton. More playing time the lower loan fee is.
Every club Arsenal tried to get that kind of arrangement, something went awry. Politics and greed at the feeder club meant Arsenal had to walk away. Beveren in Belgium, Spain twice. I think the only player Arsenal got from that arrangement in Europe is Emmanuel Eboué. Kolo Touré was bought from ASEC Mimosa at Abidjan in Ivory Coast. It was the same school owner Marc Guillou.

Despite everything, let us rem he is a 20yr old kid and did all the stupid stuff teens do. I have seen him deteriorate over time and this happens naturally to teenagers when you send them to hostels that are testing. Let him come home and am sure our support and love will bring out the best in him like it brought in Ramsey, will bring out in Wilshere and many more…. after all till they are ours we cannot but love them and support them.

Campbell wellington Walcott podolski ryo chamberlain gnabry Wilshire ozil cazorla olsson total arteta Ramsey flamini rosicky eisfeld zelalem my 18 to contest the 5 slots around the striker next season. What we need now is a world class striker and one of afobe sanogo or akpom to come good.

Unfortunately it looks like frimping coquelin yennaris diaby and aneke arenot going to fulfil their potential or fitness to make it arsenal so perhaps another world class dm needs to be considered as arteta and flamini are no spring chickens. Also with rosicky cazorla and podolski all showing signs of wear and tear another world class attacking midfielder might be required.

Some people don’t seem to realize that at age 20/turning 21 a player still has their entire career in front of them. Some people act as though he’s already over the hill! Getting sent around to temporary clubs where nothing is familiar and you know there is no long term stability can’t have been easy for a teenager. I want to see him at arsenal hopefully on next season’s pre season tour before judging. Who knows he could be a revelation. I remember thinking when I first saw him he looked incredibly gifted

Jorge, are you sure that he will get a work permit?
He does seem to meet any of the criteria. Not international, not any more special talent.
It has been reported that he will gain Spanish nationality this year (legally any 2 years resident can apply and he has been there 3). Once he has Spanish nationality, he can join Arsenal as he does not need a Work Permit.